Leucaena leucocephala (Lam.)De Wit
Status: Accepted
Genus: Leucaena Benth.
Tribe: Mimoseae
References: [1][453][1056][2825][2919]
Other names:
Common Names:
Descriptors:
- Habit:
- Lifespan:
- Stems:
- Source(s):
- 1988(Africa)Lock JM
- 1988(Americas)Zarucchi JL
- 1993 Zarucchi JL
- 1993(Indian Ocean)Lock JM & Ireland H
- 1996(Japan)Ohashi H
- 1999-01 Heald J
- Scrutinised globally by taxonomic co-ordinator:
Uses:
Geographical Distribution:
- Africa [1765]
- Equatorial Guinea-ISO [8] [11]
Notes:
- The most economically important species of the genus. [2919]
- Used for contour planting in Uganda and elsewhere. [2]
- Used in soil enrichment and erosion control. [2825]
- Mimosine content causes problems to stock if high proportion of feed is this.
- Much uncertainty over origin of species; see Hughes (1998) for discussion. [2919]
- Introduced to the Old World and often naturalised and spreading.
- Pantropical in cultivation [2823]
- Three subspecies:see subsp.leucocephala, subsp.glabrata & subsp.ixtahuacana. [2919]
- Two main agronomic types recognised:'Common'type & 'Giant' or 'Salvador'type. [2919]
- 'Common'type is shrubby, low-growing, highly-branched, seedy & often weedy. [2919]
- 'Giant'or 'Salvador'type is arborescent, erect, lightly-branched & less seedy. [2919]
- Subsp. leucocephala corresponds directly to the 'Common' type. [2919]
- Subsp. glabrata corresponds directly to the 'Giant' or 'Salvador' type. [2919]
Last Update: 14/06/2001 12:46:54